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Infectious Disease Pediatric & Maternal-Fetal Infections Intermediate
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Congenital Intrauterine Infections

T
o
R
C
H
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S
Group of vertically transmitted perinatal infections causing microcephaly, chorioretinitis, sensorineural hearing loss, and hepatosplenomegaly.

These maternal pathogens cross the placenta (or infect during delivery) to disrupt embryonic organogenesis, especially neural and ocular tissue.

Systematic Breakdown

T

Toxoplasma gondii

Classic triad: Chorioretinitis, Hydrocephalus, and Intracranial Ring/Diffuse Calcifications. Transmitted via cat feces or undercooked meat.

R

Rubella Virus

Classic triad: Cataracts, Sensorineural Deafness, and Congenital Heart Defects (PDA, pulmonary artery stenosis). Blueberry muffin rash.

C

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Most common congenital infection in developed countries. Periventricular calcifications, sensorineural hearing loss, microcephaly, petechial rash.

H

HIV

Recurrent opportunistic infections, chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive, encephalopathy; prevented by maternal ART and infant prophylaxis.

H

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-2)

Usually acquired during birth through active genital lesions. Vesicular skin lesions, keratoconjunctivitis, encephalitis, disseminated disease.

S

Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)

Early: Snuffles (rhinitis), maculopapular desquamating rash. Late: Hutchinson teeth, mulberry molars, saber shins, saddle nose deformity, eighth nerve deafness.

High-Yield Clinical Pearls & Exam Tips
  • Calcification differentiation: CMV causes PERIVENTRICULAR calcifications; Toxoplasmosis causes DIFFUSE/INTRAPARENCHYMAL calcifications.
  • Blueberry muffin rash represents extramedullary hematopoiesis, classically seen in congenital CMV and Rubella.
Related Pharmaceuticals
Pyrimethamine Sulfadiazine Ganciclovir Penicillin G Acyclovir
Related Clinical Conditions
Congenital CMV Congenital Rubella Congenital Syphilis Hydrocephalus
Authoritative Sources: Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases (AAP) · First Aid USMLE Step 1

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System Notice

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